The fugitive former aide to Republican ex-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan was shot and killed Monday night during a confrontation with federal authorities.
Roy McGrath’s death marked the end of a three-week manhunt for him that began after he fled before the start of his trial, where he was facing counts of wire fraud, embezzlement, misconduct in office, and improper use of state funds last month.
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McGrath was accused of falsely arranging a $233,647 severance payment, equivalent to one year’s salary, and stepped down as head of the Maryland Environmental Service in May 2020.
Prosecutors say McGrath got the payment approved by falsely telling the agency board that Hogan was aware of the severance package and had approved it.
McGrath served as a top aide to Hogan for just 11 weeks before resigning in August 2020 when media reports surfaced about his severance. Moreover, he also faces fraud and embezzlement charges connected to roughly $170,000 in what he marked as “expenses.”
McGrath was facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of four counts of wire fraud; and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for each of two counts of embezzling funds from an organization receiving more than $10,000 in federal benefits., totaling a potential 90 years in prison if convicted. These high stakes likely explain his decision to cut and run before his court date.
Joseph Murtha, McGrath’s attorney, told the Baltimore Banner that the Naples, Florida resident always held to his innocence.
“It’s an absolute tragedy, the loss of Roy McGrath’s life and the unfortunate events that have transpired over the past three weeks. Roy McGrath never wavered about his innocence.”
Murtha was also surprised by his no-show decision, claiming she and McGrath had had a “substantively productive conversation.”
“I have been in contact with [McGrath’s wife] Laura and she shared her concern for Roy’s safety,” Murtha told the Baltimore Sun text message. “She has requested that the media respect her need for privacy at this very difficult time.”
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On Tuesday, law enforcement agents scoured the neighborhood and home of McGrath in Naples, Florida. The US Marshals Service declared him a “fugitive.”
Federal law enforcement officials had offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of McGrath and eventually had their fateful confrontation with him in Tennessee.
However, according to the Baltimore Sun, it may not have been an FBI bullet that killed McGrath. As of now, it has been vaguely labeled an “agent-involved shooting,” but The Sun claims its sources have indicated McGrath may have shot himself when confronted by the Bureau before dying in a local hospital. “The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members seriously,” an FBI statement said. “In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under investigation by the FBI’s Inspection Division.”
“As the review remains ongoing, I cannot further comment at this time, only to comment Mr. McGrath was transported to the hospital last evening and succumbed to his injuries.”
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